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Scientists at University of Glasgow have developed a universal approach to digitizing chemistry. According to CNBC, this is a “digital breakthrough in chemistry that could revolutionize the drug industry.” Digital chemistry “could lead to safer drugs, more efficient solar panels, and a disruptive new industry.” In a research paper published in Science, the scientists describe a programming system which could remove the vast majority of the effort required to program chemical robots - automatic systems that produce chemicals on demand. The scientists have found a way to use natural language processing to create instructions for chemical robots. A program, called SynthReader, scans scientific papers and recognizes procedures for organic and inorganic chemical synthesis. Synthreader automatically breaks those procedures down to simple instructions. Then it stores the instructions in a format called Chemical Description Language, or XDL. XDL is a new open source language for describing chemical and material synthesis. The scientists have also developed a chemical robot, called Chemify. It can read and run XDL files that have been shared among users. According to the scientists, Chemify is an order of magnitude cheaper than other chemical robots. This “could help doctors make drugs on demand in the future,” said research leader Lee Cronin. “It could even mean that future manned missions to Mars could take raw chemical materials with them and make whatever they need right there on the red planet.” Daily Aspirin Against COVID Complications Researchers at the University of Maryland have suggested that daily aspirin could help prevent severe complications from COVID-19. Aspirin is an inexpensive, accessible medication with a well-known safety profile. A study is published in Anesthesia and Analgesia. It reports that hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were taking a daily low-dose aspirin to protect against cardiovascular disease had a significantly lower risk of complications and death compared to those who were not taking aspirin. Aspirin takers were less likely to be placed in the intensive care unit (ICU). They were less likely to be hooked up to a mechanical ventilator. And they were more likely to survive the infection, compared to hospitalized patients who were not taking aspirin. CRISPR Editing Tech for Larger Pieces of DNA Scientists at UC San Francisco have developed a new technology for cutting larger pieces of DNA out of a cell's genome. A research paper is published in Nature Methods. It describes a new CRISPR-Cas3 system. Recently, the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to the main developers of the related CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Using the Cas3 enzyme permits removing much longer stretches of DNA quickly and accurately, compared to using the Cas9 enzyme. According to the scientists, CRISPR-Cas3 should also allow entire genes to be inserted into the genome. And it would have industrial, agricultural, and even human gene therapy applications. Gene Therapy restores Visual Function in Mice Using gene editing technology, researchers led by UC Irvine have restored retinal and visual functions in laboratory mice. The mice were suffering from inherited retinal disease. A study is published in Nature Biomedical Engineering. It illustrates the use of a new generation of CRISPR technology, referred to as “base editing.” It can be used as a treatment for inherited retinal diseases. According to the researchers, the study lays the foundation for the development of a new therapeutic modality. And it could be applied to a wide range of inherited ocular diseases caused by different gene mutations.

In a series of 10 clinical studies, scientists at McMaster University have repeatedly demonstrated that a multi-ingredient dietary supplement can dramatically enhance the cognition and longevity of mice. I contacted one of the scientists, Jennifer Lemon, to ask if and when they plan to proceed with human studies. She assured me that they're preparing to do that soon. I look forward to the results. But wouldn't it be nice if we knew, today, what an equivalent complex nutraceutical supplement for humans might consist of? Well, you're in luck. I have that information for you. Before I share the formula, note that humans are not mice. What works in mice doesn't always work in humans (and sometimes hurts humans). However, in this case, the formula consists mainly of well-known nutrients that other scientists have independently tested in multiple (generally many) human studies. And those studies have demonstrated that at least some of those nutrients, on their own, can provide significant nootropic and geroprotective benefits to humans. So it wouldn't surprise me if scientists end up demonstrating reliable additive or multiplicative benefits from this combination of nutrients in human studies. But of course the question remains open. Science is never finished. With that in mind, I'll share with you the formula. It's an approximation, which I have derived from the published mouse doses, converted to human doses. After sharing the formula, I'll share my thoughts on the efficacy of the derived human doses for the individual ingredients. Here's the formula: Nutrient Mouse Dose Human Dose Acetyl L Carnitine 14.4000000 1000.000 Alpha Lipoic Acid 0.7200000 50.000 Aspirin 2.5000000 173.611 Bioflavonoids 4.3200000 300.000 Chromium (Chelated) 0.0014400 0.100 Cod Liver Oil 5.04 IU? Coenzyme Q10 0.4400000 30.556 DHEA 0.1500000 10.417 Flax Seed Oil 21.6000000 1500.000 Garlic 0.0216000 1.500 Ginger 7.2000000 500.000 Ginkgo Biloba 1.4400000 100.000 Ginseng (Canadian) 8.6400000 600.000 Green Tea Extracts 7.2000000 500.000 L Glutathione 0.3600000 25.000 Magnesium 0.7200000 50.000 Melatonin 0.0100000 0.694 N Acetyl Cysteine 7.2000000 500.000 Potassium 0.3600000 25.000 Rutin 0.7200000 50.000 Selenium 0.0010800 0.075 Vitamin A (Beta Carotene) 0.0300000 2.083 Vitamin B1 0.7200000 50.000 Vitamin B12 0.0007200 0.050 Vitamin B3 0.7200000 50.000 Vitamin B6 0.7200000 50.000 Vitamin B9 0.0100000 0.694 Vitamin C 3.6000000 250.000 Vitamin D 0.0000625 0.004 Vitamin E 0.9648000 67.000 Zinc (Chelated) 0.1400000 9.722 The information in the "Nutrient" and "Mouse Dose" columns is from studies published by scientists at McMaster University. The information in the "Human Dose" column is generally calculated by multiplying the mouse dose by 69.44445. Unless otherwise specified, doses are in mg. Acetyl L Carnitine is in my list of top tier nootropics. It is well researched and may provide neuroprotective benefits. In this formula, the derived human dose of 1000 mg falls in the middle of the range of doses that other scientists have used in human studies of this nutrient. I supplement with 500 to 2000 mg of Acetyl L Carnitine daily. Alpha Lipoic Acid is well researched in relation to supporting healthy nerve function. And some studies have shown that it may complement the neuroprotective benefits of Acetyl L Carnitine. The derived human dose in this formula is lower than the dose that other scientists generally use in human studies of this nutrient. I would increase the dose to at least 150 mg. Judging from the most common doses in clinical studies, I would also aim for a 3:10 ratio between Alpha Lipoic Acid and Acetyl L Carnitine, which would mean increasing the Alpha Lipoic Acid dose to 300 mg or lowering the Acetyl L Carnitine dose to 500 mg. Aspirin has become somewhat controversial as a supplement. The latest advice from the American Heart Association is to avoid daily Aspirin unless your doctor prescribes it. The dose in this formula probably falls within the r ...

I take antioxidant dietary supplements daily, so I was happy to accept when Thrivous founder Lincoln Cannon invited me to summarize 10 recent studies, performed by scientists at McMaster University, testing antioxidants’ beneficial effects on mice. I was eager to dig in and learn more about how antioxidants work. And besides, mice are cute. Aside from elephants, who doesn’t love mice? The mice in most of these studies have been genetically modified to produce more growth hormone, which causes them to age at an accelerated rate. This makes them useful as accelerated experimental models of aging and as test subjects for anti-aging treatments. For instance, modified mice have shorter life spans and experience more rapid cognitive decline in old age than unmodified mice. The cause of the modified mice’s rapid decline seems to be higher production of oxygen and nitrogen free radicals, which results in cellular damage and chronic inflammation. Free radicals also play a role in human aging and cognitive decline, so halting the damage caused by free radicals could have huge implications for human medicine. One promising approach is preventive antioxidant supplementation. In a 2003 study, researchers gave the modified mice a complex anti-aging supplement containing 31 ingredients, including flaxseed oil, Ginkgo biloba, and L-glutathione. The supplement completely halted age-related cognitive decline in the modified mice. In fact, older mice in the treatment group actually exhibited faster learning than young adult mice! Researchers replicated this result in a 2011 study, and found that supplemented elderly mice exhibited greater brain mass and increased mitochrondrial activity compared to unsupplemented mice. A 2016 replication showed that, whereas unsupplemented mice lost 50% of their midbrain cells as they aged, the antioxidant supplement completely prevented this brain cell loss. It also slowed degradation of the mice’s vision and their sense of smell by preventing cell loss in noses and eyes. A 2018 replication found that the supplement prevented impairments of working memory and spatial learning in elderly mice, but did not prevent impairments of mood or object recognition. A 2005 follow-up to the original study found that, in addition to slowing age-related cognitive decline, the supplement also extended the life span of modified mice by 28% and of unmodified mice by 11%. This suggests that antioxidant supplements may have broader anti-aging applications than simply staving off dementia. In particular, the supplement seemed to slow age-related degradation of livers and kidneys. Another follow-up study in 2008 found that the supplement protected male mice against cell death induced by radiation -- female mice proved naturally radiation-resistant and gained no additional resistance from the supplement. A 2014 study found that the supplement reduced onset of tumors in older mice by 30% and eliminated tumor metastasis in the treatment group. In addition to cognition and longevity, a reformulated version of the antioxidant supplement also improved elderly mice’s motor function and mobility in a 2010 study. The chemical mechanisms included preservation of Neuropeptide Y and of cellular mitochondria, which normally degrade with age. A 2015 study investigated the usefulness of antioxidant supplementation and of physical exercise for improving mood in chronically stressed mice. The study found that supplements and exercise improved the mice’s mood only when supplements and exercise were administered in combination with each other, not when each was administered alone. Examination of the mice’s brains showed that chronic stress had caused atrophy in the untreated mice’s hippocampi, whereas mice in the treatment group exhibited better hippocampal function. Critical to the success of these studies may be that they involved a cocktail of many different antioxidants. Individual antioxidants can sometimes have pro-oxidant effects when taken ...

Scientists at University of Exeter have found that watching nature on media can uplift people's moods, reduce negative emotions, and help alleviate boredom associated with being isolated indoors. These have become increasingly common challenges because of COVID-19 quarantines. Good old-fashioned TV programs centered on nature can do that. But, as reported in a study published in Journal of Environmental Psychology, interactive Virtual Reality (VR) experiences of nature also led to increases in positive feelings, such as happiness. They also strengthened how connected people felt to nature. The Exeter scientists worked with BBC's Blue Planet II series team. Their findings support initiatives seeking to bring the therapeutic potential of nature to people at home. An example is BBC's recent Mindful Escapes series. "We're particularly excited by the additional benefits immersive experiences of nature might provide," said researcher Mathew White. "Virtual reality could help us to boost the wellbeing of people who can't readily access the natural world, such as those in hospital or in long term care." "But it might also help to encourage a deeper connection to nature in healthy populations, a mechanism which can foster more pro-environmental behaviors and prompt people to protect and preserve nature in the real world." Virus-Mimicking Drug Fights Tumors Researchers at UC Los Angeles have found that a drug that activates the body's natural defenses, by behaving like a virus, may also make certain stealthy tumors visible to the immune system. This exposes them to better targeting by immunotherapy. A study is published in Science Translational Medicine. The researchers injected a virus-mimicking drug, called BO-112, directly into tumors in the laboratory. As a result, these tumors could be recognized and killed by immune system cells. The researchers are now leading a human clinical trial of a combination therapy involving BO-112. The idea is to activate the immune system against the patient's tumor while the tumor is still in the body. Molecules from Wasp Venom Kill Bacteria Scientists at University of Pennsylvania have engineered powerful new antimicrobial molecules from toxic proteins found in wasp venom. A research paper is published in PNAS. It reports that the researchers altered a highly toxic small protein from the Korean yellow-jacket wasp. The alterations enhanced the molecule's ability to kill bacterial cells while greatly reducing its ability to harm human cells. The scientists hope to develop the molecules into new bacteria-killing drugs. This would be an important advancement, considering increasing numbers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Greater Understanding of Dopamine and Serotonin Researchers led by Virginia Tech have found that two well-known neurochemicals, dopamine and serotonin, shape how people perceive the world and take action based on their perception. Dopamine and serotonin are involved in disorders ranging from depression to Parkinson's disease. A study is published in Neuron. It suggests that these neurochemicals integrate people's perceptions of the world with their actions. The results of the study indicate that dopamine and serotonin have far more expansive roles in the human nervous system than previously known. The researchers used new techniques, able to continually and simultaneously measure the activity of both dopamine and serotonin in the human brain.

Talk of immunity abounds. But it’s nice that work focusing on body enhancement is still coming out. Today we'll look at evidence for using Anthocyanin supplements to improve climbing performance. And we'll also look at evidence that Caffeine increases work capacity at a given level of exertion, and Vitamin D enhances lean body mass. Anthocyanin Enhances Climbing Performance New Study: Effects of New Zealand blackcurrant extract on sport climbing performance This study looked at performance while climbing. Training increases muscle oxidative capacity. But blood flow appears to remain a limiting factor to performance. These researchers hoped that they could further optimize performance and recovery. They wanted to increase blood flow to skeletal muscles. And they wanted to facilitate removal of metabolic by-products in the forearms. To that end, the study used Anthocyanin supplements. They are associated with improved blood flow at rest and during exercise. The source of Anthocyanin was New Zealand blackcurrant extract, at 210 mg Anthocyanin per dose. The test subjects were eighteen intermediate level male climbers, who climbed at least two times a week. To establish a baseline, participants completed a set of three climbs, until volitional exhaustion. Then they repeated the set after taking the supplement for 7 days, and after taking a placebo for 7 days, in random order. There were 2 weeks between climbs to allow time for the supplement to wash out. While taking the Anthocyanin supplement, climbers were able to climb for 23% longer without a significant change in their perceived exertion. There was no change in grip strength. Climbers’ forearms increased in size during each of the three climbs in each set. But the size increase was less while taking the supplement. This is good because swollen muscles become more painful in recovery. The Anthocyanin supplement appeared to enable these athletes to climb longer. And that may have been done by improving flood flow. Caffeine Increases Capacity Per Exertion New Study: Effects of caffeine supplementation on physical performance and mood dimensions in elite and trained-recreational athletes These researchers cited studies where Caffeine improved physical performance in people at various levels of activity. They wanted to compare the improvement in elite athletes versus recreational athletes. The study included eight men who competed in international boxing competitions. It also included ten college recreational athletes, who trained at least three times a week, could bench press their weight, and could squat at least 1.5 times their weight. The participants performed a series of actions. First, they received a placebo or a Caffeine supplement. The supplement contained Caffeine dosed at 6 mg per kg bodyweight. Sixty minutes later, the participants completed questionnaires about mood and perceived vitality. Then they performed a Wingate test measuring anaerobic performance. And finally, they rated their exertion. Caffeine supplements didn’t appear to make a difference in perceived exertion. However, the elite athletes had greater perceived leg exertion. And the recreational athletes had greater perceived cardiorespiratory exertion. After Caffeine supplementation, participants reached a greater peak power. They also reached peak power sooner and exerted greater power throughout the exercise. The performance effect of Caffeine was similar between the recreational athletes and the elite athletes. After taking Caffeine, both groups reported less fatigue. And the elite athletes reported greater levels of tension, vigor, and subjective vitality. The ratings of vigor, in particular, were higher in the elite athletes than the recreational athletes. The researchers concluded that 6 mg Caffeine per kg bodyweight similarly improves performance among elite and recreational athletes. It also enables greater workload at a given level of perceived exertion. Or, put another way, it reduces perceiv ...

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020 to CRISPR pioneers Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna. Charpentier and Doudna “have discovered one of gene technology’s sharpest tools: the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors,” reads the Nobel announcement. The two scientists proved that these genetic scissors “could be controlled so that they can cut any DNA molecule at a predetermined site. Where the DNA is cut it is then easy to rewrite the code of life.” “In medicine, clinical trials of new cancer therapies are underway, and the dream of being able to cure inherited diseases is about to come true. These genetic scissors have taken the life sciences into a new epoch and, in many ways, are bringing the greatest benefit to humankind.” See our review of the 2017 book, A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution, co-authored by Doudna. "CRISPR gives us the power to radically and irreversibly alter the biosphere that we inhabit by providing a way to rewrite the very molecules of life any way we wish," is one of Doudna’s conclusions. "It won’t be long before CRISPR allows us to bend nature to our will in the way that humans have dreamed of since prehistory." We avidly follow CRISPR news and regularly cover related research advances, and the first clinical experiments with live patients. My impression is that CRISPR technology is advancing very fast toward operational maturity, with frequent spectacular improvements in efficiency, effectiveness, safety, and cost. The big wave pictured by Doudna in the opening of her book is becoming an irresistible tsunami that will bring big change. BIG change. “We're eight years into it and clearly still many advances happening in the field that are continuing to expand the capabilities of the CRISPR technology,” said Doudna in a recent interview. “So I don't see any end to that right away.” CRISPR Technique Destroys Cancer Cells Researchers at Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO) have destroyed Ewing's sarcoma and chronic myeloid leukaemia cancer cells in laboratory mice. The researchers used CRISPR gene editing to cut out the fusion genes that cause these cancers. Fusion genes are unique to cancer cells and therefore are excellent targets for the development of future drugs that only attack cancer cells. A paper is published in Nature Communications. It describes how the researchers have used CRISPR to selectively and efficiently remove fusion genes. Common Cold May Limit Damage from COVID-19 Scientists led by Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine have shown that the immunity built up from previous non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infections does not prevent individuals from getting COVID-19. A study is published in Journal of Clinical Investigation. It indicates that a previous positive test result for a coronavirus did not prevent someone from getting infected with SARS-CoV-2. But the study also indicates that people with evidence of a previous infection from a "common cold" coronavirus have less severe COVID-19 symptoms. The scientists hope that their findings will contribute to limiting the damage from COVID-19. Regenerating Neurons in the Eye and the Brain Researchers at University of Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State University, and University of Florida, have identified genes that determine whether neurons will regenerate in certain animals, such as zebrafish. A study is published in Science. It maps the genes of animals that have the ability to regenerate retinal neurons. The researchers are persuaded that related research advances could one day enable regeneration of retinal neurons in people. And similar processes could regenerate neurons in the brain.

Pycnogenol and Oligopin are two brands of the well-researched extract from French Maritime Pine Bark (Pinus Pinaster). It's considered a super-antioxidant because it contains high amounts of oligomeric proanthocyanin compounds (OPCs). These are the same ingredients that are responsible for the antioxidant benefits of grape seeds and witch hazel bark. The company that makes Pycnogenol has funded hundreds of research studies and published many positive findings. The extract is marketed as a health supplement for the circulatory system and a variety of body functions associated with heart health and blood flow. Although most of the studies on pine bark have been small, many have been done by independent research and can confirm some of the health claims made by the manufacturer. Studies suggest that pine bark helps promote blood flow by increasing levels of nitric oxide. And it is often recommended to support healthy blood pressure, promote a healthy inflammatory response, and promote overall heart health. Of its many benefits, it is most widely taken as a supplement to boost cardiovascular function. And studies suggest it is effective at promoting healthy blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels. A 2013 study on obese people found that those who participated in a diet and exercise program while taking Pycnogenol experienced more significant reduction in waist size, triglycerides, blood sugar, blood pressure, and an increase in HDL (“good”) cholesterol. The cardiovascular benefits of supplementing with French Maritime Pine Bark Extract are well supported by research. However, one well-designed and large study did not show conclusive findings on heart health benefits. It was done on the Flavangenol brand, which is standardized to contain much less OPC than Pycnogenol and Oligopin. Other studies suggest pine bark extract can have a positive effect on circulation and endothelium function. And several showed a reduction in swelling and discomfort for people with chronic venous insufficiency. These and other findings suggest that French Maritime Pine Bark Extract might be a good supplement for people who want to promote healthy vein function. The circulatory benefits of pine bark and its effects on blood flow and nitric oxide levels may also help support healthy erectile function in men. But these benefits are not yet well studied. A few non-cardiovascular benefits of supplementing with French Maritime Pine Bark Extract have been researched with some positive results. Of these findings, one of the most promising is its ability to promote reproductive health in menopausal women. An Italian study found that Pycnogenol reduced hot flashes better than a placebo. These findings were confirmed later in a Japanese study. Supplementing with French Maritime Pine Bark Extract may also promote cognitive health. In an older study from Australia, it improved older adults' working memory to some extent compared to a placebo. No changes were found in other cognitive skills tests. A similar study in 2014 found that middle-aged adults who took Pycnogenol showed improvements in specific cognitive skills more so than the control group. French Maritime Pine Bark Extract is generally considered safe. But it can interfere with chemotherapy and radiation therapy drugs. Those with autoimmune diseases, those who are pregnant, or those taking prescription medications should consult their doctors before using pine bark. Research does not indicate any major side effects from pine bark. But it can cause fatigue and irritability when combined with certain drugs. Thrivous Omega Thrivous Omega Cardioprotector provides a clinical dose of French Maritime Pine Bark Extract. The formula also includes Omega 3 and Garlic to complement the cardiovascular benefits, support healthy levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, and enhance heart function for better aging. Buy Omega today!

Software programmers get a bad rap when it comes to their nutrition. However, the stereotypes aren’t too far from the truth. Late-night programming fueled by pizza and energy drinks is a relatively accurate representation of what happens. And it’s easy to snack mindlessly while you are focused on your work. While you might think you’re getting by just fine on an unhealthy diet, you could be feeling and performing even better. What if, by adjusting your diet and adding a supplement, you could be a better professional programmer? Would you do it? By providing the proper fuel for your brain, you can potentially program faster and better. One way to do so is through the use of nootropics. What Are Nootropics? Nootropics are substances that support brain function and enhance mental performance. Nootropics can include foods, supplements, and drugs. Supplements can help improve your mental performance beyond what can be achieved by lifestyle choices alone. Benefits of Nootropics While most software programmers could improve their diets, there are those that have positive lifestyle habits. Either way, nootropics can provide benefits beyond a healthy diet and exercise. This includes improved focus, better memory, added motivation, and more. The Habits of a Typical Software Programmer If you’ve chosen to be a professional programmer, you’ve accepted a career that is highly sedentary and highly stressful. Programming can take a toll on both your physical and mental health, and you need to make intentional choices to stay healthy. Your job requires you to focus for long periods of time, and that can be difficult to do. After a long day’s work, you may find your memory declining along with your motivation, attention span and overall feeling of well-being. You may experience a mid-day crash and turn to sugary foods or caffeinated drinks to get through it. Regardless of how much you enjoy your job, the physical and mental demands can start to take a toll. Fortunately, you can turn to healthier options. Nootropics for Focus and Memory Do you remember the last time you’ve been able to sit down and work for three hours straight? If you rely on sugary snacks and caffeine to stay focused, it likely has been a while. Your body uses the energy from these types of foods quickly, and when your blood sugar returns to normal, you feel hungry again, and you get up to get another snack or drink. Some nootropic supplements contain Rhodiola and Panax ginseng, both of which are believed to improve focus and memory. Unlike unhealthy food choices, you won’t crash from nootropics and feel the need to take more. As an antioxidant, ginseng may protect your brain cells from free radical damage, thereby helping to improve your brain function in the long run and not just temporarily. Nootropics like Thrivous Clarity contain the herb Bacopa, which may also improve your memory after two to three months of use. Nootropics for Motivation No matter how much you enjoy your job, it can be difficult to stay motivated every day. When you are having an “off” day, you might be tempted to throw in the towel, or you might see your quality of work decline. Some nootropics boost dopamine and serotonin levels, both of which play a critical role in motivation. Nootropics for Mood Software programming can take a toll on your mental health as well. From stressful deadlines to the lack of naturally occurring dopamines due to sedentary work, you would benefit from a mood boost every once in awhile. Nootropics that contain Rhodiola and Zinc are believed to naturally improve your mood based on some placebo-controlled studies. Emotional and mental well-being are just as important as physical health, if not more so, for a pragmatic programmer. When you feel good mentally, you are more inclined to make healthier decisions overall. Nootropics for Sleep When your brain is stimulated all day by your work and even by the lights of your computer screen, you may find it difficult to wind down ...

If you feel chained to a desk, you’re not alone. The World Health Organization notes that 60 to 85 percent of people in the world are living a sedentary lifestyle. Lawyers, especially, find that the lifestyle that comes along with working in the legal profession can be one that leaves them feeling drained, tired and listless. Put down that second — or fifth — cup of coffee, though. Nootropics can offer lawyers a safe, effective way to combat the challenges of their career. Discover how Nootropics may even help improve the work lawyers do. The Challenges in a Lawyer’s Life A common belief is that lawyers, especially partners in a law firm, enjoy a lucrative career that allows them to live a lifestyle of riches and comfort. That belief, though, doesn’t include the countless hours of studying, preparation and hard work that goes into developing and achieving that career. Long Hours in a Sedentary Position A quick look at any personal blog from lawyers across a variety of specialties shows individuals who wake up early on few hours of sleep, spend their days fighting other people’s fires, sitting on the subway, car, or train to get to an office where they sit all day at their desk, answering emails and taking phone calls. When they go back home, these dedicated professionals check more emails. One attorney wrote that he would love to get to the gym, but he is only able to the rare, non-busy day. Common Health and Mental Issues When not at the office, lawyers might spend hours sitting in court, waiting for their case to be called or flying to meetings. While the stereotypical lawyer’s salary is one that many individuals envy, the work requirements and lifestyle are far from ideal for a lawyer’s health, while physical and mental health issues are on the rise. Lawyers often have poor nutrition, eating their breakfast and dinner on the go and their take-out lunch at their desks. There’s no time to properly digest or enjoy their meals. Lawyers have limited physical activity during the day. As much as they value fitness and physical wellness, the demands of their clients, their employers and their careers often take the front seat, pushing their physical health to the side. Lawyers are usually pulled in many different directions, including answering e-mails and reviewing documents while on client calls. There are only so many hours in a day, so multitasking and hourly re-prioritizing become the norm. The problem with this behavior is that an attorney’s attention span is affected, as well as his or her memory and focus. Lawyers often work long, unpredictable hours on little sleep. The hours they do sleep are often broken into smaller chunks and interrupted by work. However, despite the drawbacks, there is a solution that can give lawyers a significant advantage when facing their day. Nootropics and Lawyers: A Perfect Match This newer class of supplements was named in 1972, based on the Greek word for "mind" followed by the word for "bend" or "turn". Known as smart drugs, nootropics are supplements designed to improve the way consumers feel and think while helping to improve their lives. Boost Cognitive Performance Specific formulations provide benefits for everything from long-term brain health to daily productivity. Some of the most common nootropics are made with natural ingredients. For example, Ashwagandha is an herb that some lawyers use to relieve social stress. And some use Fish Oil to support mood and general brain function. Improve Clarity Thrivous Clarity, another example, the first nootropic from Thrivous, is an ideal supplement for lawyers. The vegan ingredients have been tested in peer-reviewed, double-blind studies. Clarity improves focus, memory, and mood, in both short- and long-term brain function studies. The active components, individually, in many nootropics are powerful. Combined, they give an even greater effect. Over two to three months of regular use, Bacopa has been shown to improve memory. Ginkgo Biloba, an ...

Scientists led by Cornell University have created tiny micro-robots, invisible to the naked eye. They walk using four legs controlled by laser light, BBC News reports. These are the first microscopic robots that incorporate semiconductor components. This allows them to be controlled and made to walk with standard electronic signals, notes a Cornell press release. “These robots, roughly the size of paramecium, provide a template for building even more complex versions that utilize silicon-based intelligence, can be mass produced, and may someday travel through human tissue and blood.” A research paper is published in Nature. It describes this advance towards mass-manufactured, silicon-based, functional micro-robots. Lead researchers Itai Cohen and Paul McEuen hope that eventually robots like these could be designed to hunt down and destroy cancer cells, as reported by BBC News. This is one more step toward the fusion of electronics and the human body, covered in Pulse 166. The Cornell press release opens with a reference to Richard Feynman’s seminal lecture, “ There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom ” (1959). This lecture is considered as a key precursor to the field of nanotechnology, pioneered by Eric Drexler in the 1980s. Indeed, the growing miniaturization of robots with integrated processors and actuators seems inexorably to point the way to in-body medical nanotechnology. Perhaps Drexler’s nanobots, swarming through the body and curing diseases (including aging and death) are not that far after all. Genetic Discovery for Regeneration of Adult Skin Scientists at Washington State University have identified a genetic factor that allows adult skin to repair itself like the skin of a newborn. The discovery is described in a research paper published in eLife. It has implications for wound treatment and preventing some of the aging process in skin. The scientists identified a factor in the skin of baby mice controlling hair follicle formation. When it was activated in adult mice, their skin was able to heal wounds without scarring. The reformed skin even included fur and could make goose bumps. A lot of work still needs to be done before this latest discovery in mice can be applied to human skin. But this is a foundational advance according to the scientists. Molecular Studies Reveal that Aging Is Complex Researchers at EPFL have measured the molecular footprint that aging leaves on various mouse and human tissues. A study is published in Cell Reports. The study describes how the researchers used multiple techniques to measure the expression of every one of the thousands of mouse genes across three different tissues: liver, heart, and muscle. The data allowed the researchers to define an aging "footprint" and recover many of the known aging manifestations. However, aging is a complex process. And different tissues behave differently. The researchers are persuaded that further studies will permit advancing toward allowing people to age better and disease-free. Advanced Microscopy Reveals Cancer Vulnerability Caltech researchers have developed a framework using a specialized type of microscopy. It enables probing of the metabolic processes inside cancer cells. A study is published in Nature Communications. The study reports that the researchers applied Raman spectroscopy and Raman scattering microscopy to system biology. This technology permits looking inside cancer cells with more detail than before. The sub-cellular information obtained permits studying how metabolism affects drugs (“pharmacometabolomics”). While the primary purpose of the research was to do fundamental science, the researchers uncovered a few new metabolic susceptibilities in cancer cells.